Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Review: Always on My Mind by Susan May Warren


Always on My Mind by Susan May Warren

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing!

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

After a failed dig in Honduras, aspiring archaeologist Casper Christiansen heads home to Minnesota to face his unresolved feelings for Raina Beaumont, the woman of his dreams. But when he arrives unannounced on her doorstep, he receives the shock of a lifetime: Raina is pregnant with someone else’s baby.

Heartbroken, especially when he discovers the identity of the baby’s father, Casper tables his dreams and determines to be dependable for once, helping his older brother, Darek, prepare the family resort for its grand reopening. Casper longs to be the hero of at least one family story, but a never-ending Deep Haven winter and costly repairs threaten their efforts—and the future of the resort.

Worse, one of Casper’s new jobs constantly brings him into contact with Raina, whom he can’t seem to forget. A tentative friendship begins to heal fresh wounds, but can they possibly overcome past mistakes and current choices to discover a future together?


My Review

I absolutely love this series! After I finished this book I just sighed in happiness :) Casper and Raina's story actually starts in the previous book, When I Fall in Love. I definitely recommend reading it before this one if you can. The subplot in Always on My Mind is told from older brother Darek's perspective, so it would also be a good idea to read his story from the first book in the series, Take a Chance on Me. Okay, okay- just read them all in order! I've given every book in the Christiansen series (including the two novellas) five stars, so it is definitely worth the time and money. On to the review...

This is definitely a character-driven novel, which I relish. There is also a compelling plot, but I enjoy how deeply we experience the characters' thoughts and feelings. It's so easy to emotionally connect to Casper and Raina, feel their frustrations and hopes. As much as I love the other books, Casper is my favorite of the Christiansen siblings. His personality is so appealing- compassionate, adventuresome, faithful, yet still a little lost as a middle child in a family of vibrant personalities. At the beginning of the book is a letter from Ingrid, Casper's mother, to her son- expressing her love and understanding of him and his strengths and weaknesses. I appreciate the insight going into the story because it helps the reader identify some of the motivations behind his choices and actions.

Raina is strong, making the best of her situation while also owning her mistakes. Her work for the antique shop is interesting and her boss Gust is a sweet and quirky addition to the cast of friendly townspeople. It is frustrating when she doesn't view herself with any self-worth, but her spiritual journey is inspiring. The local mystery she unearths is a great catalyst for connecting with Casper, and they both discover what their true treasure is despite the adversity that is trying to keep them apart.
 (Thank you to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
 
Quote-worthy

“If what we call love doesn’t take us beyond ourselves, require more of us than we ever dreamed, then it’s not the unconditional, divine love God intends for us. God’s love is not cautious, not wise, not sensible, and not remotely conservative. In fact, loving another person the way God loves them is the greatest adventure we can have.”
-John Christiansen, Always on My Mind by Susan May Warren

 


Susan May Warren's Christiansen Family series

 By the way, are these not the most beautiful covers?! 
I can't wait to read Amelia's story in the upcoming 'The Wonder of You'!!!

About the Author

 
Susan May Warren is the bestselling, RITA Award–winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church. Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women's events about God's amazing grace in our lives. She also runs a writing community for authors. Visit MyBookTherapy.com to learn more. For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com
 

Review: Colorful Cooking: Healthy and Fun Recipes That Kids Can Make by Jacque Wick


Colorful Cooking: Healthy and Fun Recipes That Kids Can Make by Jacque Wick

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Finally, a fun and easy way to get your children to eat more fruits and veggies—and cook everything themselves! Youngsters will learn all about nutrition and healthful living as they cook their way through the rainbow with yummy recipes like Blueberry Pancakes, Sweet Potato Fries, and Pineapple Sherbet. Each recipe includes nourishing, colorful ingredients and step-by-step photos to guide your child to a lifetime of wholesome eating.

My Review

This is such a fun book for cooking with kids! The recipes have at least one ingredient to make the finished product colorful- like adding broccoli and carrots to a quesadilla. The sections are divided by color, with three to four recipes each. My 8 year old daughter instantly busted out the sticky notes and marked the recipes she wanted to try first... and twelve sticky notes later she had a hard time deciding what to make for our review :) She finally chose the "orange" recipe called Bunny Hop Float, which consisted of spicing up carrot juice with cinnamon and vanilla, sweetening it with a little agave nectar, and dropping in a scoop of ice cream.



For some reason I kept calling it Bunny Hop Shake in my head, so instead of making a float we blended it... oops! We had so much fun together in the kitchen and look forward to trying several more recipes from Colorful Cooking! The pictures are bright and professional, the ingredients simple, healthy, and tasty, and instructions easy to follow. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to spend time in the kitchen with their kids and want to keep it stress-free for mom and fun for kids.

(Thank you to Cedar Fort Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Monday, February 9, 2015

Giveaway and Review: Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey


Be sure to enter to win a copy of Sabotaged at the end of this post!


My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Growing up, goody-two-shoes Kirra Jacobs and troublemaker Reef McKenna were always at odds. Now paired together on Yancey's search-and-rescue canine unit, they begin to put aside old arguments as they come to see each other in a different light. Then a call comes in from the Iditarod that will push them to their limits.

Kirra's uncle, a musher in the race, has disappeared. Kirra and Reef quickly track the man, but what they discover is harrowing. Frank's daughter has been kidnapped. In order to save her, the man must use his knowledge as a mechanical engineer to do the kidnapper's bidding or she will die. Kirra and Reef, along with the entire McKenna family, are thrown into a race to stop a shadowy villain who is not only threatening a girl's life, but appears willing to unleash one of the largest disasters Alaska has ever seen.


My Review

Wow, thrilling adventure and mystery is what Dani Pettrey is skilled at writing! It was so hard to put down the book when real life called, and I devoured it in all my spare time and late into the night :) I thoroughly enjoyed Reef and Kirra's story, the last of the Alaskan Courage series. Sabotaged has all the vital elements that the previous books have- romance, family loyalty, extreme adventure and a dangerous mystery to be solved- yet the story is fresh, unique, and compelling. The banter and tension between Reef and Kirra is interesting as their eyes are opened to see new sides to the other throughout their journey. Their friendship deepens as they trust and protect each other, and the long-held mutual but hidden admiration quickly develops into stronger feelings as they race to find the villains threatening them and their loved ones. The spiritual themes are handled well as Reef continually turns to the Lord for guidance and Kirra's faith is tested and strengthened through the adversity.

(Thank you to Bethany House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Extras


The Sabotaged Pinterest board has dozens of great images and links on character inspiration, the Iditarod, and Alaska


Don't forget to enter the Heart of Adventure sweepstakes celebrating the release of Sabotaged!

Alaskan Courage is an amazing series! Be sure to read all the books, definitely in order since each book sets up the characters and plot for the following one. I gave them all 4 or 5 stars, but my favorite is Piper and Landon's story in Shattered!

About the Author


Dani Pettrey is a wife, home-schooling mom, and the acclaimed author of the romantic suspense series Alaskan Courage, which includes her bestselling novels Submerged, Shattered, Stranded, Silenced, and her latest release, Sabotaged. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail biting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland, where they enjoy time with their daughters, son-in-law, and super-adorable grandson.

Connect with Dani Pettrey

Thursday, February 5, 2015

E-book sale! 99 cents for Lizzy & Jane by Katherine Reay!


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KQ2G69G?linkId=CUHP2YPQC6Q4VC7V&camp=213733&creative=393177&ie=UTF8

Download Lizzy & Jane by Katherine Reay for only 99 cents! This is a fabulous deal so get it before it ends (not sure when...)

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Lizzy and Jane never saw eye to eye. But when illness brings them together, they discover they may be more like Austen’s famous sisters after all.

Lizzy was only a teenager when her mother died of cancer. Shortly after, Lizzy fled from her home, her family, and her cherished nickname. After working tirelessly to hone her gift of creating magic in the kitchen, Elizabeth has climbed the culinary ladder to become the head chef of her own New York restaurant, Feast. But as her magic begins to elude her, Paul, Feast’s financial backer, brings in someone to share her responsibilities and her kitchen. So Elizabeth flees again.

In a desperate attempt to reconnect with her gift, Elizabeth returns home. But her plans are derailed when she learns that her estranged sister, Jane, is battling cancer. Elizabeth surprises everyone—including herself—when she decides to stay in Seattle and work to prepare healthy, sustaining meals for Jane as she undergoes chemotherapy. She also meets Nick and his winsome son, Matt, who, like Elizabeth, are trying to heal from the wounds of the past.

As she tends to Jane's needs, Elizabeth's powers begin to return to her, along with the family she left behind so long ago. Then Paul tries to entice her back to New York, and she is faced with a hard decision: stay and become Lizzy to her sister’s Jane, or return to New York and the life she worked so hard to create?